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SB 51 · 2025 · Senate · Transportation Committee

Protecting boat access decal fees

AI-generated

relative to decal fees and the statewide public boat access program.

Ensures decal fees cannot be diverted from the statewide public boat access program.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 11, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill ensures decal fees cannot be diverted from the statewide public boat access program.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The $5 boat [registration surcharge] decal fee collected pursuant to RSA [270-E:5, II(d)] 270-E:5-a, II(c), and any other public access funds donated to the state shall be placed in this fund.”
RSA 233-A:13
“The fee of $9.50 collected under the provisions of RSA [270-E:5, II(a)] 270-E:5-a, II(a) shall be paid to the director of the division of motor vehicles.”
RSA 487:25
“The director of the division of motor vehicles shall pay over said fee to the state treasurer who shall keep the fee in a special fund to be expended by the department of environmental services.”
RSA 487:25
“The department shall use $.50 of the fee for lake restoration and preservation measures, exclusive of exotic aquatic weed control, $5 of the fee for the control of exotic aquatic weeds, and $4 of the fee for the milfoil and other exotic aquatic plants prevention program.”
RSA 487:25

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. David WattersDPrime
  • Sen. Mark McConkeyRVice Chair· Transportation
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services
  • Rep. James SpillaneRChair· Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Also: Sen. Debra AltschillerD, Rep. Will DarbyD, Rep. Daniel Popovici-MullerR, Rep. Aboul KhanR

Public testimony

7 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

86% support0% oppose14% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill would guarantee that decal fees for the Safe Boat Program are strictly used for their designated purpose—promoting safe and public boat access.…”
— Andrea, NH LAKES LaMoreaux, Concord · NH LAKESsupports

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 13, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0267s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 13, 2025SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-0267sadopted
  • Feb 13, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0267sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 7, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 1, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 28, 2025Public hearingSenate Transportation1:23:21–1:24:401m 19slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 13, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0267s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0267s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-0267s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 7, 2025Public hearingHouse Ways and Means1:36:22–1:40:224mlocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 3
  2. Jan 28, 2025SenHearing: 01/28/2025, Room 101, LOB, 02:00 pm; SC 7
  3. Feb 13, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0267s, 02/13/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 9
  4. Feb 13, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0267s, AA, VV; 02/13/2025; SJ 5
  5. Feb 13, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0267s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/13/2025; SJ 5
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Ways and Means HJ 11 P. 110
  7. Apr 7, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/07/2025 10:45 am LOB 202-204
  8. Apr 7, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/07/2025 10:45 am LOB 202-204
  9. Apr 7, 2025House: Ought to Pass 04/07/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 22 P. 11
  10. May 1, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 05/01/2025 HJ 13 P. 9
  11. May 22, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53
  12. May 22, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/22/2025); SJ 15
  13. Jun 10, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 06/10/2025; Chapter 0084; Effective 08/09/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.